Four rescued from capsized shrimp boat, fifth person still missing

Updated 11:04 pm, Monday, August 18, 2014

Four of the five people who were aboard a shrimp boat that capsized near Baytown on Monday have been rescued, but divers continued to search for a male passenger who remained missing, authorities said.

Late Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard said there had been no change but that at first light Tuesday they will launch a helicopter to join the search.

The incident, roughly three miles south of the Fred Hartman Bridge in eastern Harris County, was reported to the Coast Guard about 3:30 p.m.

The privately owned 41-foot fishing vessel - named the "Mr. Anthony" - overturned in Cedar Bayou Channel. Three of the passengers were able to get on top of the overturned boat and were taken to shore, said Petty Officer Manda Emery, a Coast Guard spokeswoman.

Crews operating from boats searched for hours to locate the two missing passengers.

A woman who had been trapped under the vessel was rescued about 5:45 p.m. through a puncture in the bottom of the boat.

"They used the 'jaws of life' to cut the hole open, and they were able to get the woman, who was inside, out," Emery said.

Baytown EMS transported her to a local hospital, where she reportedly was in stable condition.

Two Harris County dive team members continued to search the boat under water for the last passenger, Emery added.

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